Police in Southfield, Michigan, caught a thief who took an Uber to rob a bank last week.
Fox 2 Detroit reported that 42-year-old Jason Christmas ordered an Uber to a Huntington Bank located on Greenfield Road and had the driver wait outside in the car.
The driver, oblivious to the Uber rider’s plans, obliged. Even during the robbery, the driver remained unaware because Christmas avoided a chaotic scene by quietly slipping the bank teller a note with “This is a robbery, give me the money” written on a receipt.
After getting what he came for, the Uber driver took Christmas back to his apartment complexâthe Heights of Southfield in Lahser. He used Uber because he didn’t want to get caught driving with a suspended license.
“This is a very unusual way to commit an armed robbery in our city,” Southfield Police Chief Elvin Barren said.
After the bank teller reported the robbery to the police, they located the Uber vehicle through the bank’s security camera. Dashcam footage showed the Uber driver getting pulled over on I-696 by multiple police vehicles with their guns drawn. The rideshare employee complied with the cops and informed them of Christmas’ address.
“Anytime you get a rideshare, your identity is shared with the driver who, in turn, can share with law enforcement,” Barren explained.-
Bodycam footage captured police catching Christmas at his apartment, redhandedâliterally.
Unbeknownst to the robber, the bank teller added red dye packs to the money she handed over to the 42-year-old, which exploded all over Christmas’ clothes, the Uber driver’s back seats and the money. He was wearing the same clothes he wore during the robbery.
When police apprehended him and noticed the red paint, one of the officers asked Christmas about the “red stuff.”
“You get shot or something?” the officer asked while apprehending him.
Christmas was charged with bank robbery, with his bond set at $1 million.
